Approval Poll: Bengals select Markus Bailey out of Purdue

The Bengals finished off their draft by getting yet another linebacker.

What started out as one of the biggest needs for the team heading into the offseason has now officially been addressed. Cincinnati finished off their day by drafting Markus Bailey, a linebacker from Purdue.

You pair him with acquisitions like fellow draft picks Logan Wilson and Akeem Davis-Gaither, and it is clear that the Bengals weren’t happy with that room from last season (outside of Germaine Pratt).

This may not have been the biggest need, but in the seventh round, it is more about ending up with the best player available more than anything regardless of position. Whoever they took here is likely to end up on the practice squad unless they really impress anyway.

Bailey is a very smart player, and he knows how to fill his gaps. However, he has had some serious knee injuries that have hampered his stock, and his change of direction leaves plenty to desire. He still has a great understanding of where to be in coverage, but his limitations will lead to some serious mismatches.

We are probably looking at a guy who will be a special team player who may end up being a solid backup with potential to start, which is what we should expect from a seventh-round pick. What do you think of the pick though?